Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-04-20

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It would save @ lot of possible trouble If
upon the state of Mary's property, and re-
Elected that there was really no reason for
refusing this last request. rang, and sent
a message asking Mary to come to us.
Miss Beaufoy remained standing, q tall,
dark figure, unrelieved sven by the white.
ness Of her hands, for she kept them folded
beneath her cloak. The clear twilight had
given place to night, and the glow Of the fire
gave only q partial and battling light. The
influence Of tho mysterious figure oppressed
me, and l lit the candles, disclosing the
splendid eyes and the pale perfect face more
clearly. We spoke nc further word.
"Soon the door opened, and like fresh
spring air Mary Fortescue' brought the at
mosphere OF innocence and owe into the
darkling room.
She shrunk rather from her kiuswoman,
but overcome the instinct and advanced to
her, trembling a little, hut bravely cycling
her in the strength Of her recovered free.
DOM.
"Mary,' began Miss Beaufoy,n [ have
come to make matters more equal between
u.s."
"It doesn't matter" said Mary; 'nothing
matters now; The past is past, and the fu-
ture is all bright"
The Basilisk smiled a very tlreatning
smile.
81 have come to make some amends she
oolO3 ILL Cucu Liz C1CIS SIG DuC0TGu 1uCO Il
statement, clear and concise, of some de-
tails OF Mary's position and property.
The information would be most useful,
and was at loss to account for her gen.
orosity. Perhaps it was unfair to seek a
motive. A generous impulse was not for
eign to such a nature as hers. especially
when she could serve no purpose to her own
advantage by keeping the knowledge to
herself.
"And now + suppose you mean to marry
and live happy ever after?" sho said. =
81 trust so" answered; 'as soon as I can
set my own affairs in order"
A glance Of white, furious anger shot from
the Basilisk at her cousin, but it passed in a
moment.
And now, my dear Mary" she said,
'can I do anything more for you?"
"No, nothing" said Mary, who had got
ty as ever Giulia Beaufoy had been.
d you not even wish for some revenge?n
sneered the Basilisk.
"Revenge! lido not think of it. 1 wish
harm to none Of you. AL I wish is never to
see O againE"
1be Basilisk had drawn close to her.
every we'll" she said in a low, choked
voice, every we'll.
You shall have your wish-you shall
never see us again"
A quick motion of the hidden hand, the
CLEAN Of a snow-white arm! With a cry OF
horror I rushed forward and seized the up.
raised hand by the wrist. A splash Of
Giulia Beaufoy was writhing in agony
upon the floor. The vitriol, which she had
designed for Mary, had fallen upon her
self. Blasted by her own awful device, her
beauty was marTed Tits prime, and, by a
swift and terrible Judgment. perpetual
the Basilisk.
X f x X
OF Plowitz I heard no more. Mr.. Beau
toys trial caused an immense sensation.
His death at Portland shortly after his ar
rival there passed almost unnoticed, though
there were circumstances of cunning and
determination about the means he used to
cornpassit, which will probably reward the
researches of some future story-teller.
The memory of those terrible days is still
too recent to enable Mary to talk much over
the past yet, though, in the sunshine of a hap.
py home, she has lost already the shadow OF
the unhappy years
Last August we were staying in a lively
little French watering place, out little fire..
quented by English people. Twas smoking
a cigar on the sands at sunset, when my
power and sweetness. It filled me with
strange feeling Of familiarity. joined the
large crowd which was listening in rapt at
tentiOn to the music.
! enqulred of q gentleman, whose &C
qua1ntance I had made at the table d'hote,
it he knew Anything of the singer,
He informed me that she was a woman
who was quite blind-who had lost he1
signt, it was said, at the hands of a disap
pointed rival.
"She must have been beautiful too," h,
added.
"Why does she not get a regular engage
ment? With q voice like thai she surely neee
not be dependent upon open-air singing like
this"
"Ah," he said, Struggling his shoulders
IL do not know. Many managers have
tried to get her, but she will not sing ever
in the casinos in the summer. She is mad
they say. She finds her way about, and il
always on the move Som say she is {
female Wandering Jew. Depend upon i
she has q history"
We made our way through the crowd by
degrees, and found ourselves face to fac,
with the singer-a tall, gaunt woman, with
masses of dark hair. . Her eyes were ban
daged, and her face was terribly sacred.
"Good God" I exclaimed, hocror-strick
en-. put & napoleon into her hand ant
went away. That was the last I saw If tn
Basilisk.
THE EMF.